Gallery 19: Case 23

Death and burial in the Old and Middle Kingdoms

By 3500 BC, the Egyptians had developed the concept of preparing a corpse
for burial, with clear evidence of the use of linen wrappings by the beginning
of Dynasty 1 (around 3030 BC).

In the Old Kingdom (2707-2170 BC) it became important to transform the body
into a special form, a sah. This was a perfect, eternal image of the dead
person, eventually represented by a body wrapped in white linen, with a mask
covering the head. In a very few cases, bodies were dismembered but this
practice ceased by the end of the period.

At the same time the Egyptians began to build substantial tombs, including
offering chapels decorated with scenes to ensure the continued existence of the
dead in the afterlife. Burials often included statues of the deceased where
their ka-spirits could receive offerings.

Tombs cut out of the rock developed in the Old Kingdom, becoming very
popular during the Middle Kingdom (2046-1793 BC). Figures of offering bearers
and other wooden models were often included in burials at this time, as well
as shabtis, figures which would carry out work for the dead in the
afterlife.